GRAFTON, ILL. – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has announced changes in this year’s waterfowl hunting program at the Mississippi River State Fish and Wildlife Area caused by significant flooding at the site. 

Flooding at the site has occurred several times during the spring and summer, most recently last week following heavy mid-September rainfall.  The changes in the IDNR waterfowl hunting program will be in effect for all blinds in Mississippi River Pools 25 and 26 under the management of the Mississippi River State Fish and Wildlife Area.

The new operating rules for the 2008 waterfowl season are outlined below:

If all sites are at or within 12 inches of normal managed hunting season water levels by Monday, October 6, blind inspections will occur between October 6 and October 11. The inspection will be for structural safety and dimensions. Brushing and dog hide requirements will not be reason to reject approval of a blind. Those blind holders whose blinds fail inspection will be notified by letter and have until Sunday, October 19 to make repairs with the final inspection on October 20.

There will be no “red tag drawing” at the Mississippi River SFWA this year.

If all sites are not at or within 12 inches of normal managed hunting water levels by Monday, October 6, there will be no blind inspections this year. Hunting will be allowed from either the blinds or the staked site.

If all sites are not at or within 12 inches of normal managed hunting season water levels by Monday, October 13, there will be no check station operations at Mississippi River SFWA this season.

For more information on waterfowl hunting at Mississippi River SFWA, phone 618/786-3492.

For more information on Illinois waterfowl hunting season dates and regulations, check the Digest of Waterfowl Hunting Regulations 2008-09 through the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us/admin/waterfowl/Digest_08-09.pdf.